Genetic diversity level of Picea Abies forest planting material

Saint-Petersburg Forest Research Institute, Russian Federation

^* Corresponding author: asbond@mail.ru

Abstract

Increasing the role of environmental safety in a forest reproduction requires great attention to the level of forest plants’ genetic diversity. Currently, such researches have a high significance and direct practical interest taking into account the climate change process and the increasing impact of human activities on the natural environment. These researches are of a great interest from the point of view of assessing the risks of artificial forest plantations (due to a limited number of genotypes and influence of selection). In our studies, the genetic diversity level of breeding tree planting material was assessed on the basis of the analysis of genetic variation in annual increment of Picea abies half-sib family trees. This level was compared with genetic diversity level for standard plant material. Summing up, we can say that at the current level of selection intensity, tree breeding does not lead to a genetic diversity narrowing of for half-sib families in comparison with conventional artificial forests. At the same time, the forest tree breeding gives a reliable selection effect, leading to increased overall forest productivity. Higher growth rates of trees, as well as the value of the level of genetic diversity comparable to standard stands, allow us to recommend the seeds improved through breeding for wide use in forest management in not only forest plantations and planted stands in regular forests, but also in protective forest reforestation.